February is Led-ruary!

Welcome to Kaleponi Records, my musical home on the web. My name is Fran Guidry, and I play kika ki hoʻalu or Hawaiian slack key guitar.

Kaleponi is the Hawaiian word for California, where I live. Ki hoʻalu, or slack key, has a direct link to California history. The guitar was carried to the Big Island of Hawaiʻi by vaqueros from California. You can read more about the history of slack key guitar on the Dancing Cat Records web site.

Slack key guitar is named for the retuning that characterizes the style. Most of these new tunings feature loosened, or slackened, strings which give a deep rich sound.

My personal slack key history goes back to 1999 and my first visit to Hawaiʻi. When we turned on the TV in our Waikiki hotel room I was captivated by the playing of Keola Beamer. I knew in an instant that I had to learn to play this beautiful music. Over the years I've learned from great players and teachers like Ozzie Kotani, Keola himself, Patrick Landeza, Kevin Brown, Cyril Pahinui, Kawika Kahiapo, Raymond Kane, Dennis Kamakahi, and Ledward Kaapana.

Sunday, February 2nd, 2020

Led has been traveling the country with George Kahumoku and Kawika Kahiapo, bringing the sweet sounds to the eastern states and the midwest. Now George and Kawika have headed home and it’s our turn here in Northern Cali to enjoy some of that Led Kaapana magic. I’ll be opening for Led at these shows, I hope we’re doing one near you.

Wednesday, Feb 5, we’ll be in Soquel, CA, at Michael’s on Main. The show is at 7:30 pm. Led has lots of friends in the Santa Cruz area and there are plenty of folks who cherish their connections to Hawai`i. Led loves bringing a touch of the islands to his friends and fans.

Saturday, Feb 8, the show will be presented at the Old Steeple in Ferndale, CA at 7:30 PM. The great folks at the Ferndale Music Company really make us feel at home and the town and people of Ferndale are great to visit.

Thursday, Feb 20, we are back in the Bay Area for a show at Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, CA. This show is also at 7:30 PM. Once again a spot where we connect with lots of friends, and of course a visit to Mill Valley is always a treat.

Friday, Feb 21, we are off to Winters, CA to play at the Palms Playhouse at 7:30 PM. Winters is another charming town with a street of historic buildings, set in the middle of apricot orchards.

Saturday, Feb 22, the show is at The Cue in Concord, CA. The show is at 6:45. Carol Davis and her crew provide such a welcoming environment for Hawaiian music and it’s just around the corner from home, so our travel is a cinch!

Sunday, Feb 23, we cross the Bay for a show at Pacifica Performances, Pacifica, CA at 4 PM. We always look forward to the ocean views and seafood treats before the show along with the warm welcome from staff and the members of the audience.

I hope Led and I will be able to come up with some new videos while he’s here. It’s going to be a little challenging, because there has been some remodeling around here leaving the Brass Toucan Studio piled in the corner. I have plenty of measuring and wiring and adjusting before we’re ready to record again. In fact I should be up there working right now …

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 2nd, 2020 at 6:49 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.